Leicester Tigers: Kronfeld and Kafer keen to earn stripes

By Brendan Gallagher

6:12PM BST 31 Aug 2001

ONLY the fittest and strongest - mentally and physically - survive at Leicester, and when it comes to overseas players the Tigers' scouting network invariably recruits independent and unique individuals. You need to be somebody pretty special to enter the close-knit Leicester changing room and earn respect. The screening process has to be precise and thorough.

There was the wise-cracking, deep-thinking, loquacious Joel Stransky. There was also the iron-willed Fritz van Heerden and Dave Lougheed, powerful and forthright in a typically Canadian fashion. And finally came the laid-back but inquisitive Pat Howard. The Australian utility back travelled around Europe on his days off and then returned to Leicester's Oadby Oval training ground to take the Tigers' backs on a voyage of discovery. By the time he departed in May, he had achieved guru status.

Waisale Serevi was, perhaps, one risk too many, but the Fijian rarely played in the same position twice as coach Bob Dwyer chopped and changed, and many in the Leicester squad look back fondly on the his stay. Serevi's tries against Toulouse and Treviso during their 1997-98 European Cup campaign are among the best individual efforts in Tigers' history. Gone, but not definitely not forgotten.

And now Rod Kafer and Josh Kronfeld, two of the biggest, most singular characters in the world game, have come to Welford Road. It would be amazing if they did not make a major impact.

Kafer, immensely squat and powerful, is known as "Tugboat" by his friends. The brains behind the Australian Capital Territory back division, he is a marvellously inventive and competitive player and an invaluable member of the Australian squad. Short on pace, he is however as sharp as a needle mentally and as tough as they come. Not a man to mess with, but great fun in the company of friends.

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Kafer's colourful reputation precedes him and the rump of the Leicester pack nodded their heads with enthusiastic approval when Dorian West related one tale as they gathered for a sundowner on England's recent North American tour. Apparently, after one big ACT Super 12 win, the squad headed for the bright lights and Kafer phoned up the local hospital and ordered an ambulance for precisely 3 am outside a well known nightclub. "I am a diabetic and shouldn't drink but we're on it big-time so I'll be in a coma by about 3 am," Kafer explained patiently.

In Limerick during the World Cup two years ago your correspondent witnessed another extraordinary scene inside a crowded pub when the women's lavatory had been accidentally locked and a young lady was caught short. Kafer immediately recognised the emergency and cleared the heaving gents in 60 seconds flat, dragging out the occupants, including Australian colleagues, two at a time, one under each arm in the manner that Colin Meads is said to have carried sheep around his farm in New Zealand. Kafer then stood guard until the mission had been accomplished. The man has style.

Kronfeld needs less introduction, though even the Leicester players were surprised when he absent-mindedly wandered a mile into town recently from Welford Road in his bare feet, apparently oblivious to the scorching Tarmac. Mentally the former All Black flanker prefers to live life on a beach, his thoughts rarely far from the waves he chases as an accomplished surfer. On the pitch, however, he is always focused, hard and mean. Along with his new colleague, Neil Back, he has probably absorbed more punishment that any other open-side flanker in history.

Kronfeld arrives totally refreshed after more than eight months out of the game. He returned to action during the Barbarians tour of Britain in May and slotted straight back into the elite game.

"Eight months. It was a mental rest, not so much a physical rest," Kronfeld said. "Not having to talk rugby, watch rugby, study videos, talk to the media, always be on show and representing your club or country. Time to just be on your own and be a regular bloke.

"I just feel so refreshed and so good it's not true. I even noticed it for the Barbarians at the end of last season. Most of the guys were knackered after a long season and were happy with a 20-minute run around for training, but I was running around like a mad thing ready for anything. I couldn't get enough.

"I'm not here for the money. There were other, bigger offers. I'm here to enjoy two years of superb rugby. I'm not that old and I haven't even ruled out going back to New Zealand afterwards and pressing for another season in the All Blacks team. Sometimes I get a real twinge when I see New Zealand run out, though not so much this Tri-Nations. The matches were, to be honest, rubbish. Two big, highly-organised defences rubbing each other out."

Watching and learning will be Leicester's young guns, some of the most promising players in England. Lock Ben Kay is already impressed. "After winning the treble last year it could have been a bit samey, an anti-climax when we got back to training. Not with those two. They're incredible characters, great enthusiasts for the game. Life could never be boring with them around. It's going to be a fun season."